Testimonies

Edwards, James Barber | Day 3

Witness Type: Briber, No Indemnity, Petition witness, Treater

Party: Liberal

Other Days The Witness Was Called On: Petition Day 1 | Day 4 | Day 9 | Day 10 | Day 14

Witness Testimony:

• 3148.

  When did you get the cheque for 200L. ? — I see from my pass book that I paid a cheque for 200L. into the bank upon May 11th, but I do not know what day of the week that was.

• 3149.

  That is Tuesday the 11th, and the election was — upon Tuesday the 18th ? — I received 200L. on account on that day.

• 3150.

  We heard that Sir Julian Goldsmid came upon Monday the 10th in the afternoon ? — Yes, that would be the day I met him.

• 3151.

  And you got a cheque for 200L. upon the following day ? — Yes.

• 3152.

  Was that a cheque upon his London bankers ? — Yes, I think it was ; I took gold out the same day from the bank here. Then I had another cheque from him for 320L., which I see was paid into the bank upon the 15th. I have two cheques here for 320L., but one was my own cheque.

• 3153.

  You do not know the date of the cheque for 320L. ? — No ; I had 300L. out the same day.

• 3154.

  You probably received that cheque upon the 14th or 15th ? — I think so. I see upon the 12th I had 320L., and upon the 15th 320L., but one was my own cheque, and had nothing to do with Sir Julian Goldsmid. I am almost certain that Sir Julian’s cheque was paid in upon the 15th.

• 3155.

  One of the cheques was your own private cheque, one of the cheques for 320L. ? — Yes.

• 3156.

  Whether Sir Julian’s cheque was the one you paid in upon the 12th, or the one you paid in upon the 15th, you are not certain ? — I think I may say I am certain that Sir Julian’s cheque was paid in upon the 15th, upon the 12th I drew out 320L, but whether that was Sir Julian’s cheque or my own I do not know.

• 3157.

  That would render it probable, would it not, if you drew out 320L., upon the 12th, that was the date of Sir Julian’s cheque ? — No, I think that was my cheque.

• 3158.

  Did you draw it out for your own purposes ? — No, for the purposes of the election.

• 3159.

  Did you open an account for the election ? — No, all the money I had I took myself

• 3160.

  And paid into your private account ? —Yes. I have my pass book here, and it appears from it that on the 11th May I had 200L, then upon the 12th 320L., and upon the 15th 320L.

• 3161.

  That was all the money you used in the election ? — Yes.

• 3162.

  But one of those cheques for 320L. was your own money ? —Yes ; I drew out 200L. upon the 11th, 320L. upon the 12th, and 320L. upon the 15th. The reason of having the money so sharply was because the Monday before the election was a Book Holiday, when no money could be got, and of course I did not know what money I should want.

• 3163.

  What other sums did you receive ? — I received 1,300L. at Sandwich.

• 3164.

  From whom was that ? — I have been told since it was Mr. Foord, but who it was I do not know.

• 3165.

  How came you to go to Sandwich ? — I was over at Sandwich at Mr. Emmerson’s.

• 3166.

  Had you gone over with any expectation of receiving this money ? — I think I had understood from Mr. Emmerson that he expected somebody. I was over there I think in the morning for some purpose connected with the election, and I think he said, “Perhaps somebody would be calling,” and this gentleman came I believe by the train.

• 3167.

  With money for the election ? —Yes, with money for the election.

• 3168.

  And you went there in consequence ? — I was over there.

• 3169.

  Did you stay there ? — Yes, I think I stayed there.

• 3170.

  Upon what day was that ? — That was upon the Friday. You may perhaps wonder how I can fix the day, but let me say this ; one of the newspapers states that Mr. Emmerson said it was the day before the election, and I am quite certain it was not ; and yesterday I made inquiries to ascertain the exact day, and how I ascertained it was this ; I drove from Sandwich with the money to Deal, and I saw my driver, and he informed me that the day I was over there, and he took me from Sandwich, was upon the Friday, which was exactly according to my impression. If Mr. Emmerson stated that it was the day before the election, he is mistaken, because I am quite sure it was not the day before the election.

• 3171.

  You say you are strengthened in that impression by the inquiries you have made, and you have ascertained it was upon the Friday that you received the 1,300L. ? — Yes.

• 3172.

  Where did you see Mr. Foord ? — At Mr. Emmerson’s.

• 3173.

  When Mr. Foord came in, tell us what took place ; what did he say ? — He said very little ; he said he had brought 1,500L. for the election.

• 3174.

  (Mr. Jeune.) Mr. Emmerson, in his evidence, stated also that it was upon the Friday that you had the 1,300L. ? — I saw it in the paper that Mr. Emmerson stated it was the day before the election, and I wish to correct it, because I am quite sure it was not the day before the election.

• 3175.

  (Mr. Holl.) You say that Mr. Foord said nothing, or very little ? — I do not recollect his saying but very little; I think he said that the friends of Sir Julian Goldsmid had sent the money ; I think he said some- thing about Sir Julian’s friends having supplied the money for the election, and that Sir Julian had very great objection to paying money before the election was decided.

• 3176.

  I must ask you to remember as accurately as you can exactly what was said ? — No, I cannot remember it ; he wanted me to count the money, but that I declined to do ; I know that for one thing. Sir Julian had told me in the conversation I had with him, which I have referred to, his great objection to paying money before hand ; that he had never done so, and did not wish to do so.

• 3177.

  What did Mr. Foord say to you, as nearly as you can recollect ? — I must repeat what I just now said ; he said he had brought 1,500L. for Sir Julian’s election.